Tag: Republican primary

Commentary: Trump Still Has the Magic

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The Republican primary is already in full swing. While a few second-tier candidates have joined the fray, including neoconservative Nikki Haley, Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.), and old school evangelical and former Vice President Mike Pence, the chief contest is between former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

Things are already heated. Some former Trump supporters now support DeSantis. Indeed, they have completely turned against Trump. The firehose of criticism reminds one of the refrains of a jilted lover.

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Trump Dominates Latest Georgia Poll of Republican Presidential Candidates

M.D. Kittle

Former President Donald Trump only seems to be getting politically stronger since his arrest in Manhattan earlier this month — at least in the Republican Party presidential nomination chase. 

The opening poll of the 2024 campaign season by the University of Georgia School of Public & International Affairs (SPIA) shows Trump with a huge double-digit lead over his nearest rival, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (50.7% to 29.8%).

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Nikki Haley Visits Border, Delivers Her ‘Catch and Deport’ Plan to Solve Border Crisis

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by Jennie Taer   Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and 2024 Republican candidate Nikki Haley visited the U.S.-Mexico border Monday, delivering her proposal to solving the illegal immigration crisis. Haley proposed a mandatory E-Verify program for employers to ensure they’re not hiring illegal immigrants, firing 87,000 IRS agents to hire…

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Ex-Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson Says He’s Running for President

Just the News

Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Sunday he has decided to run for president and plans on formally announcing his campaign in April. 

“My decision is, I’m going to run for president of the United States,” he told ABC News’ “This Week” during an interview. He said he will formally announce his campaign in his hometown of Bentonville, Arkansas, later this month.

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Donald Trump Tops National Primary Polls, But DeSantis Leads in Key States

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While former President Donald Trump continues to lead national polls for the 2024 GOP primaries, state polling is more of a determining factor, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is topping several important states.

In states with the most recent primary polling, DeSantis leads in five– Alabama, California, Michigan, Pennsylvania and North Carolina. There are several other states in which he leads, but with several caveats.

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Minnesota’s GOP Primary Races to Watch on Tuesday

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Minnesotans will head to the polls Tuesday to pick their preferred candidates for the general election. Every seat (201) in the Minnesota Legislature is up for grabs this November because of redistricting.

The Minnesota GOP maintains control of the Minnesota Senate and could take back the House from Democrats.

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Former Governors Thompson and Walker Defend ‘RINO’ Robin Vos After Trump Endorses Opponent Adam Steen

The Center Square

The former president may not have nice things to say about the top Republican in the State Assembly, but two former Republican Wisconsin governors are heaping praise on Robin Vos.

Former President Trump ripped Vos this week when he endorsed Vos’ primary opponent.

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Andy Ogles Wins GOP Primary in Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District

Tennessee Star Staff

Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles easily won the Republican primary in Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District on Thursday.

The Associated Press called the race for Ogles at 10:30 pm central time. His two leading opponents, Beth Harwell, former Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives, and retired Tennessee National Guard Brigadier General Kurt Winstead, conceded the race to Ogles shortly after 10 pm.

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Wyoming U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney Still Trails by Double Digits to Trump-Backed Challenger Harriet Hageman in Upcoming Republican Primary

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Wyoming GOP Rep. Liz Cheney is trailing her Trump-endorsed GOP primary challenger by over 20 points, according to a poll released over the weekend.

Ahead of the Aug. 2 primary, challenger Harriet Hageman, a natural resources attorney, leads Cheney 52% to 30%, according to the Casper Star-Tribune poll.

No other Cheney challenger had more than 5% support and just 11% of voters were undecided.

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Five Candidates Seek Republican Nomination for Tennessee House District 32 Open Seat

Laura Baigert

Five Republicans are seeking the nomination for the Tennessee House District 32 open seat, created by the retirement of five-term Representative Kent Calfee (R-Kingston).

The winner of the Republican primary on August 4 will face off against Democrat Jan Hahn, who is running unopposed in the primary, to represent citizens of Roane and a small portion of Loudon County. The district includes not only the city of Oak Ridge, but the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, production site of the Manhattan Project’s atomic bomb, as well as the Y-12 National Security Complex.

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Elaine Davis and Janet Testerman are Set to Face Off for Tennessee House District 18, Knox County’s Only Contested Republican Primary

Laura Baigert

With one-term Representative Eddie Mannis deciding not to run for another term, Tennessee House District 18 is the only one of Knox County’s seven state House districts that will have a contested Republican primary on the August 4 ballot.

Elaine Davis, Former Knox County Commissioner and former Vice Chair of the Knox County Republican Party will face off against Knoxville City Council member-at-large Janet Testerman in the district that lies mainly in West Knoxville and is now considered to be slightly more conservative after the recent redistricting that picked up a small portion of South Knox.

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On Salmon’s Exit, Founder of Arizona’s State House Freedom Caucus Urges ‘Principled, Stalwart Conservatives’ to Support Kari Lake for Governor

Rachel Alexander

In the wake of Matt Salmon’s exit from the Republican gubernatorial nomination race, State Representative Jake Hoffman (R-Queen Creek) – founder of the Arizona Legislature’s House Freedom Caucus – issued a statement urging the former state representative’s supporters to switch their support to Kari Lake.

With Salmon out of the running, the Arizona race for governor is down to two major candidates on the Republican side.

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Ohio Republican Primary Was Dominated by Non-Republican Voters

Bradley Vasoli

Figures from the Republican Party’s voter database indicate many voters who traditionally have aligned with the Democrats voted in Ohio’s Republican primary on May 3 in which Gov. Mike DeWine handily won nomination for another term.

The Republican National Committee (RNC) database rates voters on a scale of one to five in terms of their allegiance to either the Republican or the Democratic Party. Mainly, the GOP takes into account which party’s primaries Ohioans have voted in historically, though other data are weighed as well.

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U.S. Senate Candidate Blake Masters Begins to Break Away from GOP Primary Field, Latest Independent Poll Finds

Cooper Moran

Arizona U.S. Senate candidate Blake Masters is starting to break free from the crowded field and establish himself as the frontrunner, according to an independent poll from The Trafalgar Group.

The businessman secured roughly 29 percent of the support of respondents. Meanwhile, his closest competition, Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich took in almost 24 percent of the vote.

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Madison County Republican Mayoral Nominee Sought Votes from Democrats, Independents in Republican Party Primary

Laura Baigert

Evidence points to the Madison County Republican mayoral nominee pursuing and receiving votes from Democrats and independents in the Republican Party primary held on May 3.

A.J. Massey in a three-way race won the Republican primary for Madison County mayor with just over 50 percent of the nearly 10,000 votes cast in the primary that saw 19 percent turnout, according to Madison County’s election results.

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Business Owner Beth Lear Officially Launches Campaign for Ohio House District 61 Seat

Cooper Moran

Beth Lear, a small business owner and military veteran, officially launched her campaign for State Representative for House District 61.

Lear made the announcement following a decision from a federal judge to allow state House and Senate maps to be implemented, after they were previously ruled unconstitutional by the state Supreme Court.

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Surging ‘Ultra MAGA’ Pennsylvania Senate Candidate Kathy Barnette Answers Questions About Her Background

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In a series of interviews Thursday, “Ultra MAGA” Pennsylvania senatorial candidate Kathy Barnette attempted to clear the air after her campaign came under attack for not being transparent about her background.

After her highly praised debate performance on May 4, Barnette surged to a statistical three-way tie with Republicans David McCormick and the Trump-endorsed Dr. Mehmet Oz in the Republican primary race for the open U.S. Senate seat in Pennsylvania.

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Perdue Issues Statement on ‘Out of Control’ Crime in Georgia and Threats Against SCOTUS

Aaron Gulbransen

The Trump-endorsed candidate in the May 24 Republican primary, former U.S. Senator David Perdue, issued a statement on Monday in the aftermath of the shooting of six people on Mother’s Day.

“This is another tragic example of what happens when a Governor keeps his ‘powder dry’ instead of taking bold action to keep people safe. Crime is out of control across the state. People are being shot daily, but Brian Kemp is missing in action. This disaster is happening on his watch. My question to the people of Georgia is do you feel safe? If not, then it’s time for a new Governor. Nothing is more important to me than ensuring you and your family are safe.” 

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GOP Judicial Candidate Brian Horowitz: ‘I Would Love to See More Republican Candidates Stick Their Neck Out There and Try to Make Nashville a Better Place’

Julie Carr

Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed GOP Judicial Candidate for Davidson County Division Nine, Brian Horowitz in studio to discuss why he’s the preferred candidate over the incumbent and what it will take to win the race.

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TN-5 GOP Congressional Candidate Andy Ogles Raises $453k for Campaign in First Month

Tennessee Star Staff

The campaign of Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles announced on Tuesday he has raised $453,000 during the first month since he announced his candidacy to secure the Republican nomination in Tennessee’s Fifth Congressional District.

Ogles is one of nine qualified candidates on the August 4, 2022 Republican primary ballot for the TN-5 nomination.

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Kemp Takes Fire During GOP Gubernatorial Debate, Perdue Campaign Claims Victory

Aaron Gulbransen

ATLANTA, Georgia – Incumbent Republican Governor Brian Kemp took rhetorical attacks from all of his opponents during the Georgia Public Broadcasting-hosted GOP gubernatorial debate that aired on Sunday evening.

The debate took place as part of the The Atlanta Press Club’s Loudermilk-Young Debate series, which aired on GPBS.

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Metro Nashville Police Department Confirms Deputy Chief, Currently Running for Political Office, Under Two Internal Investigations

Laura Baigert

Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) Deputy Chief Chris Taylor, who is currently running for political office, is under two separate internal investigations by the Office of Professional Accountability (OPA), the MNPD Public Affairs confirmed Thursday to The Tennessee Star.

The OPA is investigating a complaint received this year concerning Taylor wearing his uniform while off-duty in Sumner County as well as interaction with staff at the MNPD Training Academy, Public Affairs Director Don Aaron told The Star in an email.

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IL-11 Republican Challenger Jerry Evans Responds to National Republican Congressional Committee Adding District to Target List

Aaron Gulbransen

Illinois Eleventh Congressional district challenger Jerry Evans responded to the news that the National Republican Congressional Committee has added the district to the Democrat incumbent target list.

In a statement issued to The Star News Network, Evans said “The NRCC adding Illinois’ 11th Congressional District to their list confirms what we have seen all along. Illinoisans have had enough of Joe Biden’s dismal economy, catastrophic foreign policy, and undeniable incompetence.” he said. “They no longer wish to be represented by Biden yes-men like Bill Foster. They want a Representative who will go to Washington and fight for them, not kowtow to Nancy Pelosi and the far-left fringes of the Democratic Party. With a strong fundraising record, significant national press, and an elite team, my campaign is well positioned to finally retire Bill Foster.” 

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Ohio Gov. DeWine Says He’s Not Afraid of ‘Tough Fights’ in Campaign Ad, Renacci Responds

Peter D'Abrosca

Ohio’s governor Tuesday released a campaign ad bragging about his toughness. 

“He’s not afraid of the tough fights – Governor Mike DeWine,” the ad says. “When big city unions refused to open our schools, he took them head on and got our kids back in the classroom. As China cheats with unfair trade tactics, DeWine fought bring manufacturing jobs back to Ohio. While radicals pushed to defund our police, DeWine increased funding for law enforcement to keep us safe.” 

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Huckabee Sanders Endorses Kleefisch for Wisconsin Governor

Peter D'Abrosca
Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Rebecca Kleefisch

An Arkansas gubernatorial candidate Monday issued an endorsement to one of her counterparts in Wisconsin. 

“I’m proud to endorse my good friend Rebecca Kleefisch,” said Sarah Huckabee Sanders, former press secretary to then-President Donald Trump. “We need strong conservative governors like Rebecca, standing up for our law enforcement, pushing back against the radical Left and their socialist policies, and making sure that craziness coming out of Washington doesn’t change our states.”

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Congressman Jody Hice: Brad Raffensperger’s Mailing of Absentee Ballot Applications to Everyone on the “Grossly Inaccurate” Georgia Voter File for the November 2020 Election Was a “Horrible Decision That Majorly Impacted Our Election Process”

Laura Baigert

Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger’s mailing of absentee ballot requests to everyone on the Georgia voter rolls for the November 3, 2020, presidential election, was a “a horrible decision that majorly impacted our election process,” Congressman Jody Hice (R-GA-10) told The Georgia Star News in a telephone interview Thursday, calling the voter registration file “grossly inaccurate.”

The November 3, 2020 presidential election results certified by Raffensperger and Governor Brian Kemp had Democratic candidate Joe Biden ahead of President Donald Trump by less than 12,000 votes out of 5 million votes cast, of which 1.3 million were fraud-prone absentee ballots.

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Lou Barletta Leading Republicans in Pennsylvania Gubernatorial Primary, New Poll Finds

Cooper Moran

A new poll from the Trafalgar Group shows former congressman and Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate Lou Barletta leading the Republican primary field.

The survey of 1,070 likely Republican voters demonstrated that Barletta has 24.1 percent of the support, as State Senator Doug Mastriano follows closely behind with 19.9 percent.

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New Polls Show Renacci Leading DeWine, Potential Democratic Opponent in Ohio Gubernatorial Race

Cooper Moran
Jim Renacci

Two surveys, conducted by the Harris Poll and commissioned by the Committee for a Better Ohio, showed Republican Jim Renacci leading incumbent Mike DeWine and potential Democratic opponent John Cranley.

The first poll analyzed each Republican candidate’s odds against John Cranley, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for the position against Nan Whaley. Renacci has the largest lead of any GOP contender, leading the Democrat by 10 points. DeWine’s lead was only 2 points.

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Club for Growth Endorses Blake Masters in Arizona U.S. Senate Race

Cooper Moran

Arizona Republican Blake Masters picked up an endorsement on Thursday from the Club for Growth PAC, an outside group that supports conservatives in key elections across the country.

The support from the group will likely provide Masters outside funding in an attempt to defeat his GOP contender and, potentially, Democrat Senator Mark Kelly.

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Former Georgia GOP Sen. David Perdue Announces Primary Bid Against Gov. Kemp

Admin

Former Georgia GOP Sen. David Perdue on Monday announced his primary bid against incumbent Republican Gov. Brian Kemp.

In a video announcement Monday, Perdue said Kemp “has failed all of us and cannot win in November.”

Perdue was recruited to challenge Kemp by former President Donald Trump.

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Arizona Corporation Commissioner Justin Olson Launches U.S. Senate Bid

Cooper Moran

Justin Olson, a member of the Arizona Corporation Commission, announced on Wednesday that he will run for U.S. Senate, representing Arizona.

The Arizona Republican joins a crowded GOP primary field, vying for an opportunity to take on incumbent Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ).

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Ohio Republican Gubernatorial Primary Challenger Renacci: Ohio Has Fallen Farther Behind Under DeWine

Laura Baigert

WELLINGTON, Ohio – Republican primary challenger Jim Renacci said he jumped into the gubernatorial race because, after two and a half years under Governor Mike DeWine, Ohio has fallen farther behind.

Renacci spoke with The Ohio Star while attending 45th President Donald Trump’s first rally since leaving the White House in January.

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Only 23 Percent of Republican Voters Would Vote for Gov. DeWine in a Primary

Jack Windsor

A statewide survey conducted by the Strongsville, Ohio GOP asked respondents “If a qualified Republican ran against Governor DeWine in the Republican primary, for whom would you vote?”

Only 23.8% said they would vote for DeWine, while an unnamed “qualified Republican” would get 39.2% of the vote.  Thirty-six percent were not sure and 1% would support an “other” candidate.

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‘DISGRACEFUL:’ Marsha Blackburn Scorches Manny Sethi Supporter Zach Wamp for Now-Deleted Tweet About Female Volunteers in Bill Hagerty’s Campaign

Chris Butler

Former Tennessee congressman Zach Wamp, who recently endorsed U.S. Senate candidate Manny Sethi, on Saturday posted — and deleted — a tweet accusing Sethi’s opponent, Bill Hagerty, of using young female volunteers “in short shorts” to attract votes.

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), upon reading Wamp’s tweet, reprimanded the former congressman and suggested he doesn’t respect women.

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Sen. Rand Paul in Knoxville for Dr. Manny Sethi: ‘I Have Never Seen a More Sincere Opponent of Obamacare’

Laura Baigert

Sen. Rand Paul, who was in Knoxville Saturday for a town hall event in support of Dr. Manny Sethi for U.S. Senate, said he has never seen a more sincere opponent of Obamacare.

“I guess that’s what sort of bothers me is that people would lie about that,” said Paul. “Obamacare has really messed up healthcare. I think it’s been a disaster for the country.”

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Sen. Ted Cruz Supports Dr. Manny Sethi Because ‘Washington Needs Strong Conservative Fighters’

Laura Baigert

MT. JULIET, Tennessee – At the last of three events held in the state Friday, Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas said he was in Tennessee supporting Dr. Manny Sethi because Washington needs strong conservative fighters.

The support rally featuring Cruz was held at the Music City Baptist Church in Mt. Juliet, was attended by nearly 400 fro all over middle Tennessee who filled out the main auditorium and an overflow room to a standing-room-only situation that started filling up more than a half-hour before the official start time.

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Inaugural ‘Conservative Caucus’ Held in Murfreesboro Saturday

Laura Baigert

  MURFREESBORO, Tennessee — The inaugural Conservative Caucus, a free event attended by a few hundred people, was held across several ballrooms at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Murfreesboro Saturday. The event was organized for those who intend to honor the nation’s forefathers with the Constitutional rights they laid out…

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Governor Bill Lee Endorses Incumbent Matthew Hill for State Representative

Laura Baigert

Governor Bill Lee endorsed incumbent Matthew Hill for the state House of Representatives’ 7th District of the eastern portion of Washington County, according to an announcement by the House Republican Caucus.

Hill, who has been a member of the Tennessee House since first elected in 2004, is being challenged by Rebecca Keefauver Alexander in the August 6 Republican primary.

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Former Congressman Ed Bryant Endorses Manny Sethi for Senate

Chris Butler

Former Congressman Ed Bryant on Monday endorsed U.S. Senate candidate Manny Sethi, who is running to replace the retiring U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN).

This, according to an emailed press release on Sethi’s campaign website.

Bryant represented Tennessee in the U.S. House of Representatives and served as a magistrate judge for the Western District of Tennessee.

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